GIHS has record number of students win at DECA regionals

James Rustowicz, left, and Josh Ungaro with the awards they won in the sports and entertainment marketing category at DECA regionals, held Sunday at Lockport High School. (photo by Larry Austin)

Students
from Grand Island High School had a record-setting weekend in
Lockport.

A team of
101 students in the school's DECA program traveled to Lockport High
School Sunday, Jan. 6, for the annual Region 12 DECA competition.
Fifty-seven returned with awards, the most Grand Island has ever had
in the program's history.

More than
500 students competed in business-related events, according to Grand
Island DECA advisor Cheryl Chamberlain,

Chamberlain
said DECA competition "is like no other of its kind because local
business leaders come out to help judge 30 scenario-based events."
A typical event can include a 100-question test based on marketing,
business administration or finance, followed by a role play where
students address a typical business problem. GIHS senior Josh Ungaro,
who competed in sports and entertainment marketing, a team event,
with James Rustowicz, said in their category the duo had "15
minutes to plan and then 10 minutes to present" a program to
promote a 3-D movie.

Ungaro
said they went over practice tests and role plays in business class
and study halls "to get our feet under us."

"Students
who compete in hospitality, have a judge in the hospitality field,
and the same goes for accounting, visual advertising, and human
resources," according to Chamberlain, also co-president of the
region.

Another
winner Sunday was Nick Soos, who competed in marketing management.
Two years ago, he went to nationals after placing third at state
competition. Last year, he finished eighth at states. The secret to
success in role plays, Soos said, is showing confidence in speaking,
having an understanding of the subject matter, and "being well
prepared with the different topics that you get addressed with, and
being able to hit all the topics and the performance indicators and
hit them in a manner that is unique and sets you apart from the other
people competing."

Other
award winners included juniors Sarah Dollendorf and Jake Athoe, who
competed together in business laws and ethics. They placed first in
regionals and 10th in states last year, Athoe said, and were out to
prove that "last year wasn't a fluke."

"Nationals
are in Anaheim this year, so we're really looking to go," Athoe
added.

Dollendorf
said competition and DECA instills "confidence and the strength to
manage being able to talk in front of somebody. It develops public
speaking skills."

"It
steps you up and prepares you for life in general," she said. "It
gives you the opportunity to be leaders and to learn from
experience."